Authors: Annalisa Simon
Uncapping her soup quickly, Candasee dug in. There was something about eating
hot soup on cold rainy days that made her sigh with pleasure as her toes curled at the warmth sliding down her throat. She always hated storms and Darius could never understand why she wouldn’t sit and watch the lightning displays with him. Why couldn’t he be more like Nathan who understood her and never tried to force her into being who she wasn’t? Nathan just accepted her as she was and that meant so much to her. He was well,
predictable
and she liked that about him!
Suddenly conscious of her
own train of thought, she noted to her chagrin how easily her thoughts still slipped back to her ex-husband Darius. Distance and time may have separated them, but still her heart had not yet forgotten him and the fact that their divorce still hurt infuriated her to no end!
After enduring a year of him trying to convince her how silly her dreams of becoming a dance instructor were he’d planned the worst betrayal she could have ever imagined.
He and his damned money! Oh and according to him, she should be proud to be an attorney and she was lowering her standards for a hobby! She wasn’t simply a trophy to be displayed on his arm when he proudly introduced her as his wife or by her job title as a high-powered corporate attorney. Every time he did, it had annoyed her because he only started doing that after she declared her desire to change her career. He always knew she loved to dance, so why the sudden change of heart when she decided to make it her career? Sure he gave a little resistance to her going to classes over the years but nothing like when she decided to make it her passion and her life.
She could appreciate wealth and prestige as much as the next person but her heart just longed to do something else.
Her father taught her that a person’s worth was measured by more than their career and the size of their bank account. Character, integrity and fulfilling one’s divine purpose were also extremely important to her and to her family. She would never forget the disdainful words Darius spoke to her after she closed her private law practice to work part-time at a studio which taught dance on the island.
“Surely you don’t expect me to say that you teach dance for
living, do you? What would my associates think about that? Why don’t you work with me at the hotel or just continue practicing law if you need to be busy? Leave dancing as a hobby for the ordinary folks!” His words still echoed painfully in her mind even till now.
Who were these o
rdinary folks and did he forget his own roots and how he came to be where he was today? It was after that moment and several other tumultuous ones which followed that made her wonder how she could have ever thought she knew or loved that shallow excuse for a man.
But nothing prepared her to discover that he’d paid her dance troupe to make sure that she never performed any starring roles even though she knew she was the best. He’d let her think she wasn’t good enough to try to manipulate her and to break her spirit so she would do exactly what he wanted her to do. Just remembering the many times she would audition for a role only to see her name in the supporting cast and the surprised reactions from her fellow dancers broke her heart many times. It took her finally confronting the troupe leader to discover that Darius had been paying them off for almost a year.
The man she loved betrayed her trust and she’d tried to close her heart to him and every other man that day. She went home and left him immediately and filed for divorce once she’d got back home in Barbados.
How could she still have feelings for that inconsiderate, manipulative bastard?
She knew the answer immediately because of the almost paralysing stab of pain that she once again felt deep in her heart. Once again, the pain was an indicator that what he said and what he’d done still mattered, and it still mattered a lot even now and it wasn’t fair! There were purges and cleanses of all kinds for the body, so how come she couldn’t find something that would take care of this constant dull ache in her heart?
Was that all that she was to him after al
l they had experienced together? Had becoming a hotel magnate changed him so much that all he saw was money and status and the need to show off and to fit in with the crowd? What had happened to the man who used to spend hours with his head resting on her lap listening to her talk about her hopes and dreams? He seemed interested then, but she had to wonder if it was just all an act to get her down the aisle. Granted, it only took six months from their first date to their wedding day but surely she could not have been so blind! She always prided herself on being able to see through the façades presented to her by her clients in the many cases she worked on as an attorney. But nothing prepared her to discover that the biggest lie was the trust she had placed in Darius Brogan to love and support her, she recalled bitterly.
“Hey, you seem as though you have drifted off to a faraway land!” said Nathan touching Candasee’s shoulder lightly
.
She’
d blown on that spoonful of soup in her hand about twenty times now and he was pretty sure it was cold!
“Hmm
?” she intoned, coming slowly back to reality before pushing the spoonful of cold soup into her mouth barely registering its temperature.
“Are you okay, I hope you aren’t worried about the conference, somehow I have a feeling that Solange will come
through for us!”
“
Yes, you are right! Let’s just eat okay!” snapped Candasee, not bothering to explain the true direction of her thoughts. Nathan knew she’d lived here on Derrien Island for four years but she’d avoided going into any details about her marriage. Talking about this former life was her least favourite subject because she still felt way too much when she thought about it! She always found a way to deflect attention from discussing her past, because that was how she wanted it to stay, a past event and nothing more. The time never seemed right to discuss the subject of her failed marriage to Darius.
Nathan
actually only knew her as Candasee Maxwell because she had reverted to using her maiden name after the divorce was finalized leaving off the name Brogan which would so easily tie her to her well-known ex-husband. The less Nathan knew the better and the fewer questions she would be forced to answer! The subject of her marriage was still a very sore point she just didn’t want to discuss with anyone!
Although Nathan
was wealthy in his own right, he would certainly be intimidated if he knew that the simple woman sitting before him used to be married to a billionaire who owned three major hotel properties throughout the Caribbean and several other real estate businesses. It was probably for the best that he knew as little as possible!
Suddenly Nathan’s phone rang and he grabbed it quickly hoping that it was Solange with good news.
“Hello, Nathan speaking!”
“
Hi Nathan, Solange here, and I have really good news for you!” she sing-songed with excitement in her voice. “I managed to find a replacement hotel for you to host the intensive for the next week,” she said excitedly. “The owner and I discussed the monetary aspect and he agreed that it will not cost you much more than you would have spent here at the Meridian Hotel.
“Solange, this is great news!” e
xclaimed Nathan smiling broadly, grasping Candasee’s hand, giving it a hopeful squeeze.
“
Now, I know that you wanted to have a hotel which the delegates could afford and we had arranged special discount rates, but at this hotel that arrangement will be problematic!” continued Solange.
“I don’t understand! I thought you said the rates were going to be similar. I
s it significantly more expensive?” interrupted Nathan with concern.
“Oh definitely
more expensive, out of your budget actually, but I managed after much negotiation, to still get you a really good discount. It will work if you can get the delegates to share rooms and split the costs!” she said.
“I am not sure they
would want to do that! These people are practically strangers to each other,” Nathan replied warily.
“I kn
ew that would have been a concern for you, so I took the liberty of asking the delegates who are already here what they thought about the idea! When they heard the name of the hotel, they were more than willing to make the sacrifice,” said Solange laughing.
“Whic
h hotel did you book for us Solange?” demanded Nathan.
“
None other than the luxurious five-star Derrien Island Grande Spa Resort and the owner’s name is Darius Brogan. He’s been a good friend of mine for a while now so don’t worry I am in the process of sending out all of the details to his hotel to help you all get settled in quickly. This is a loss for us here at the Meridian, but we want to make sure that you still have a wonderful event!” replied Solange sincerely to her friend. She and Nathan were old college friends and they had kept in touch occasionally throughout the years!
“
Yes, I am sorry too about not being able to use your property but did you say, Derrien Grande Spa Resort and Darius Brogan? Do you mean the billionaire hotel magnate who has been buying up properties all over the Caribbean?” exclaimed Nathan loudly. “I heard that property was one of the most luxurious in the southern Caribbean.”
“You heard right!” laughed Solange in response.
At the sound of Darius’ name and the Derrien Grande Spa Resort, the sense of dread Candasee felt on the plane returned in full force and completely eliminated any appetite she thought she had left. Instead a wave of panic flooded her abdomen and her heart began to race erratically. Her soup filled spoon dropped from her hand back into the container as every muscle in it became listless. Surely she didn’t just hear Nathan say that the venue for the intensive shifted to
that
hotel?
“The one and the same,”
Solange continued with a smile. “So I know that you and all of your delegates will be well taken care of in five star quality. I scheduled a meeting with his events coordinator for you this evening, so you can go over with her your plans to set up the conference area and I will drop by the hotel tomorrow to check up on you.”
“Solange, thank you so much, I really appreciate how you have gone out of your way to make
sure this event still succeeds,”
“Now, before you thank me, there is another condition to this d
eal that you need to know about. The hotel is in need of an entertainment package on the fourth night of your intensive. So when I told him that you were a professional arts and media group he was very interested in learning more about you and in making this exchange. The group they booked cancelled last minute and now it is imperative that they get a professional arts company to provide entertainment. They would have preferred a local group but they aren’t very picky right now,” she said.
“I see, so we will be working for our stay
and our supper in other words!”
“Something like
that and it will help you absorb the differences in the cost for the delegate’s meals as you no longer have the all-inclusive arrangement we arranged. Darius has agreed that if you do the show, he will include the delegate’s meal costs in two of the restaurants, for the duration of the intensive. That is extremely generous of him and you would both be helping each other out!”
“
Why is he so willing to do this? Has he ever heard of my academy?” asked Nathan with surprise.
“I emailed him a few videos of the performances company did and
told him about the many awards you have received and both he and his events coordinator were quite impressed,” Solange replied. “Now this is the big part that I haven’t told you about yet! You are getting a steal because the entertainment is going to be featured on the
Where in the World Is Sally Flanders?
travel show this upcoming week, so you will be getting free global exposure and recognition for the work you do at your academy,” squealed Solange with elation.
“
No way!” exclaimed Nathan. Solange are you serious? This sounds too amazing for words! I don’t know how to thank you! When I see you remind me to give you a giant hug!” hooted Nathan excitedly.
“Someone must really love you in heaven, Nathan!” said Solange smiling. “I am r
eally happy for you; this couldn’t have been better arranged for your academy!”
Nathan blinked rapidly as he fought to digest the implication of the news! The academy was going to be featured globally on one of the most popular shows
on TV right now?
“Solange this is too amazing for words, wow!” he said.
“Okay, while that sinks in I have to go and sort out some other details so we will talk again soon!” she said before disconnecting the call.
As N
athan hung up the phone and looked at Candasee to tell her the good news, he paused and studied the odd dazed expression on her face. She was staring at the bag where he had just placed his phone with utter dread and panic written all over her face!
“Candasee, I have some good news,” he said slowly trying not to alarm her
by touching her arm lightly. “Solange got us rooms and a new venue at the Derrien Island Grande Spa Resort, isn’t that wonderful? I knew this would work out wonderfully!” he continued while trying at the same time to comprehend the stricken expression on her face. “The owner agreed to allow us to pay similar rates with a few concessions on his part to ensure a smooth transition, as a favour to Solange! Aren’t you happy? We just got a major upgrade for the intensive!”